So, those are on my writing shelf at home. I also have a teeny tiny copy of Writing Down the Bones, but it’s too tiny to read, so I haven’t. And while I did go through a morning pages phase, The Artist’s Way is not my favourite thing.

When I’m stalling, I also read my favourite authors, and I have a thing for first novels.

Writing books frustrate me. The last one I liked was Writing with Power by Peter Elbow, but that was back in 11th grade.

I really WANT to learn from them, but so often they rub me the wrong way somehow. I am not sure why. Maybe because when I’m in MY sandbox, I don’t want people hanging around telling me how to design my sandcastle.

I read, not about how to or ideas, I read on the net, off my bookshelf, newspapers. I find that if I am struggling I need to let it drift and see what happens. I do try to write each day, even if its just prose notes, the act of writing any mundane thing can set me up. Going over old writing yet to be expanded can help too.

I like to read so many different things. It is hard to narrow it down. I have been inspired even by things like “Captain Underpants”. One book I love is “Embrace Me” by Lisa Samson. I think it just depends on my mood.

Bird by Bird; Escaping into the Open (Elizabeth Berg); Unstuck (Jane Anne Staw); Walking on Alligators (Susan Shaughnessy); A Writer’s Book of Days (Judy Reeves); The Writer’s Book of Hope (Ralph Keyes). How to Write (Richard Rhodes).

Wow, look at all these great recommendations everyone, amazing! I have to be honest, I don’t read any writing books at all. I’m not saying that I don’t need them, far from it, I’ve just never had the desire to read a writing book. Instead, I like to re-read my favourite authors and see how they do it.

The only one that I’m tempted to read it Stephen King, ‘On Writing’ that Kourtney mentioned. Hmm, maybe I should invest in some after this post LimebirdLorna! 🙂

I was skeptical about reading books about writing. But it helped me learn writer speak making me a better beta reader and self-editor. As a reader, I can tell you what I like and don’t like, but explaining why it didn’t work and articulating methods to fix it used to be a hurdle. I like writing books that feel more like an intimate discussion where a master shares their knowledge and perspective. Stephen King and Anne Lamott felt like mentors after I finished their books.

When trying to find I inspiration I tend to just read novels that are the same genre that I write. These books also happen to be my favorite genre anyways so it’s almost always guaranteed to be enjoyable.

I enjoy books about writing. A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves is fun. I had a blast taking Eric Maisel’s A Writer’s Paris with me to Paris a few years ago, where I rented an apartment and played ex-pat writer for a week. I’m currently reading and enjoying Naked, Drunk and Writing by Adair Lara, which is about creative nonfiction.

After all these years, I still enjoy discussing craft, and I guess that’s what writing books do for me in absence of a workshop situation.

I have to say that The Artists Way really changed my writing life for the better, and got me on a track of upping my commitment to writing that brought a lot of amazing things into my life (writer’s conference, writing workshop, PEN Emerging Voices fellowship). I’ve tried to do it again with no success, but do find that morning pages will pull me out of the writing doldrums.

Great topic, LimebirdLorna! I’m looking forward to checking out some of these books I hadn’t come across before.

Seems like I would love a Writer’s Paris, and been there twice and want to go with the dude at some point. I like Paris, but I love Prague. Have you been? I’m going to check out Naked, Drunk and Writing, sounds like my kind of book!